Spar-type buoy for maritime navigation

ABSTRACT

A spar-type buoy for maritime navigation, which is capable of retaining a predetermined position, which comprises a tubular metallic and tapered support for a plastic floating member, said support being connected to a sinker by means of a linked joint unit which allows the buoy to effect angular displacements at one extremity while pivoting at the opposite extremity.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,800,347 Zuurbier Apr. 2, 1974 [54] SPAR-TYPE BUOY FOR MARITIME 3,548,602 12/1970 Monnereauh 9/8 R NAVIGATION 3,674,225 7/1972 Johnson 9/8 R 3,210,103 10/1965 Montgomery et a]. 287/21 [76] Inventor: Bernard Johan ZuurbIer, V1a 3,636,716 1 1972 Castellanos 287/87 Schwardi 70, Brescia, Italy 3,402,961 9/1968 Larson 287/20 R [22] Filed: Sept. 15, 1972 3,390,408 7/1968 Lockwood et a1. 9/8 R APP- N03 2891688 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Frankfort [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 29, 1972 Italy 5133/72 [57] ABSTRACT 52 us. 01 9/8 11 A P YP 1 for maritime which is 51 1m. (:1 B631: 21/s2- Pable retaining a predetermined whid [58] Field of Search 9/8 R 8 P 8.3- 287/21 commit?S a tubular metallic and taPm! suPPort a 20 plastic floating member, said support being connected to a sinker by means of a linked joint unit which a1- [56] References Cited lows the buoy to effect angular displacements at one UNITED STATES PATENTS extremity while pivoting at the opposite extremity. 2,969,552 1/1961 Karnow 9/83 R I 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures aeomm PATENTEU R 2 I974 1 SPAR-TYPE BUOY FOR MARITIME NAVIGATION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to maritime signal means and, particularly to the so-called spar buoys.

THE PRIOR ART In maritime navigation, buoys are employed to signal the presence of reefs, sunken obstacles and other dangers and to coordinate the navigation of vessels inside channels and harbors. Besides the conventional can buoys, nun buoys and spherical buoys, adapted with lights, bells, whistles, and marked colored indicia, also spar buoys are generally employed. Spar buoys, contrary to the other types, have a rather long iron or wooden spar and are used where ice floats are present or where the current of the water is severe. Spar buoys present a greater rigidity and are not likely to move about widely, because the chain or rope securing them to the mooring sinker is much shorter than in other types of buoys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a spar-type buoy which will not change its position due to water currents and yet will not become a hazard if struck accidentally by a vessel. It comprises a vertical metallic tubing on which is mounted at a predetermined height a floating body of plastic material and other signal means. The bottom extremity of this tubing is connected by means of a joint to the mooring means or sinker of the buoy.

By means of the buoy of the present invention, it is fully obviated the loss of the signalling means, visual or otherwise, due to collision by vessels or due to the impact of the water currents, which loss is frequent in buoys of the prior art.

The buoy of the present invention, while much more rigid than the traditional spar buoys, nun buoys, can buoys, etc. is still affording a degree of resiliency due to the joint at the bottom of the tubular member of the buoy. Consequently, if struck by a passing vessel, the buoy of this invention will effect an angular displacement and return thereafter to its original vertical positron.

THE DRAWINGS These and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed description thereof and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the spar-type buoy of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the joint of the buoys connecting it to the sinker; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a variant of the joint of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION When comparing the buoy of the present invention with those of the prior art, the following advantages are immediately recognizable: A lower production and installation cost than in the case of anchor buoys, chain buoys, buoys with lifting lugs, etc. A far superior positioning of the buoy which is not subject to deviations due to maritime currents. A possibility of maintenance and inspection in situ" without the need of hoisting the buoy completely from the water. The absence of danger that the buoy damage the striking vessel with its chain or the like.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the buoy of the present invention comprises a vertical or tubular support 1 which has both extremities closed and water-tight, so as to add to the floating effect of the buoy. At a predetermined height and corresponding with the surface of the water there is fixed to the support 1, by means which are conventional and are not shown in the drawings, at least one floating member 2. This member 2 may or may not be provided with stabilizing means and is made of light, plastic, highly resilient and shock-resistant material. The vertical support 1, in order to advantageously afford greater lightweight and greater resiliency, as well as uniform distribution of shock resistance throughout its entire length, is preferably tapered and in sections of upwardly smaller crosssection. Concurrently, the floating member 2 is dimensioned so that the floating effect insures the constantly vertical position of the vertical support 1 and the return thereof to its original position after any angular displacement.

At the bottom extremity of the vertical support I there is provided a joint unit, indicated generically at 3, for the mobile connection of the support 1 to the sinker 4. This unit 3 is ideally suited for angular displacements of the entire support 1 as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit 3 comprises two U-shaped members 5 and 5, the formed connected with its terminals to the vertical support 1 and the latter similarly connected to the sinker 4. The two U-shaped members are linked to each other so as to permit free pendular displacements of the buoy in angular fashion. This arrangement affords the advantage of an accentuated inclination of the entire buoy for purpose of maintenance and/or replacement of the devices mounted on the buoy without the need of climbing thereon as it is the case of buoys which are solidly and rigidly connected to the bottom of the water basin or channel.

Another embodiment of the joint between the support 1 and the sinker 4 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The Unit 3 comprises a threaded member 6 fixed by means of nuts 6 to a plate 7 which is, in turn, fixed to the sinker 4 by means of the anchoring means 8 of the latter.

Member 6 has a ball 9 which is seated and is angularly displaceable-within a semispherical seat 10 provided in flange 11 and member 12. Flange l l and member 12 are fixed to each other by means of bolts 13, member 12 being furthermore fixed, for example by means of welding, to the bottom extremity of the support 1.

Between flange 11 and member 12, between ball 9 and corresponding seat 10, and between nuts 6 and plate 7 of the unit 3 there are provided suitable watertight gaskets 15 of material which is resistant to saltwater and to corrosion in general.

. Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that variants are possible in the construction of the joint unit 3. For example, one may employ universal joints or equivalent ones, as it is known in the art.

In any event, the joint unit 3 must be such as to prevent axial displacements of the vertical support 1, which displacements would cause wearing and continuous impacts of the lower portion of the support 1 against the sinker. However, the joint unit 3 must allow the angular displacements of the vertical support and the returning of the floating member of the buoy to its vertical original position after any such displacement.

What is claimed is:

l. A spar-type buoy for maritime navigation comprising a vertical support having an upper extremity and a lower extremity, said support comprising a plurality of tubular, coaxial sections having adjacent ends thereof telescoped within each other, each said support section having a transverse dimension smaller than said section immediately therebelow for defining a light weight, resilient tapered member that permits uniform distribution of shock resistance throughout its entire length; floating means fixed at a predetermined height on said support and near said upper extremity, said floating means being dimensioned so as to insure the constant, vertical positioning of said support and the return thereof to its original position after any angular displacement, said floating means being made of a shockresistant, light-weight, resilient plastic material; a sinker; and a universal joint coupling said lower extremity of said support to said sinker for permitting free pendular displacement of said buoy in an angular manner and for permitting accentuated inclination of said buoy for purposes of maintenance and/or replacement of any device mounted on said buoy without the need for climbing thereon, said joint comprising a seat rigidly secured to said sinker; a plate rigidly secured to said seat; a flange and a semispherical seat rigidly secured to said lower extremity of said support; and a connecting element having a sphere and a threaded stem, said sphere being positioned in said semispherical seat and said stem being attached to said plate, said joint further including gasket means intermediate said semispherical seat and said sphere as well as intermediate said flange and said lower extremity for maintaining said joint substantially watertight. 

1. A spar-type buoy for maritime navigation comprising a vertical support having an upper extremity and a lower extremity, said support comprising a plurality of tubular, coaxial sections having adjacent ends thereof telescoped within each other, each said support section having a transverse dimension smaller than said section immediately therebelow for defining a light weight, resilient tapered member that Permits uniform distribution of shock resistance throughout its entire length; floating means fixed at a predetermined height on said support and near said upper extremity, said floating means being dimensioned so as to insure the constant, vertical positioning of said support and the return thereof to its original position after any angular displacement, said floating means being made of a shockresistant, light-weight, resilient plastic material; a sinker; and a universal joint coupling said lower extremity of said support to said sinker for permitting free pendular displacement of said buoy in an angular manner and for permitting accentuated inclination of said buoy for purposes of maintenance and/or replacement of any device mounted on said buoy without the need for climbing thereon, said joint comprising a seat rigidly secured to said sinker; a plate rigidly secured to said seat; a flange and a semispherical seat rigidly secured to said lower extremity of said support; and a connecting element having a sphere and a threaded stem, said sphere being positioned in said semispherical seat and said stem being attached to said plate, said joint further including gasket means intermediate said semispherical seat and said sphere as well as intermediate said flange and said lower extremity for maintaining said joint substantially watertight. 